Casting machine



April 17, 1928. 1,666,843

' Y F. N. BROWN, JR

CASTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1925 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 w M J6 f (a.

V y /y Q 6 0 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 17, 1928. F. N. BROWN, JR

CASTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Z2 11. fir'own, ([7;

ATTORNEYS WITNESSE W quentially Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

FRANCIS NATHANIEL BROWN, JR., OF EL PASO,

TEXAS, AssfeNoR' or ONE-HALF TO FRANK N. BROWN, SRi, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

' CASTING MACHINE.

Application filed April 15, 1925. Serial No. 23,319.

My invention relates to improvements'in casting machines, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

- More particularly described, the present invention is an improvement on the casting machine that is disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States #1,518,630, granted to me December 19, 1924.

The casting machine which is disclosed in my aforesaid patent is adapted to be used in forming small castings, such as those adapted to be used in dental work, and it affords facilities for'subjecting a maSs of molten metal to pressure to form a metallic object of a desirable shape and at the same time draws air from the space at the bottom of the mold cavity, the means for exerting pressure on the molten metal in the mold and the means for drawing air from the bottom of the mold cavity beginning to function at the same time. Y

An object of the present invention is the provision in a casting machine of the character described of means forexerting pres sure on investment material within the mold and for causing suction within the bottom of the mold cavity in combination with means for controlling the operation of said pressure causing means and said suction causin means so that the suction causing a means will be operated before the pressure causing means is operated and will continue functioning after the pressure causing means begins to function.

A furthur object of the invention is the provision in a device of the character described of a novel pneumatic control forapplying pressure fluid to a plurality of separate cylinders so that the working stroke of pistons within the cylinders will begin seand will terminate simultaneously.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, mainlyin front elevation, and partlyin verticalsection, showing the improved casting machine,

Figure tary vertical section through the base: portion of the machine and through cooperative members which arev disposed beneath the the top 1 of the base.

2 is a slightly enlarged fragmenbase and are operable to cause Ha. suction on openings through a rest plate on the base,

Figure 3 is a relatively enlarged transverse section through a novel valve which is comprised in the embodiment of the present invention, the view being taken substantially along the line 3-.3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical section through the machine taken substantially along the line H of Figure 1, V Figure 5 is' a horizontal section taken along the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section through a four Way cock which is comprised in the embodiment of the invention.

The supporting structure of the improved casting machine comprises a base having a substantially flat top 1 from which a marginal flange 2 depends for supporting the base on a flat surface 3 so'that the top 1 will be disposedin spaced parallel relation thereto. The depending marginal flange 2 maybe provided at its lower end with any desirable number of spaced outwardly extending attaching ears 4 having vertical openings, 5 through which bolts, not shown, or like fastening devices may be projected into the fiat surface 3 for securing the base to the supporting surface. A tubular stem 6 is supported, on the top 1 of the base and is shown in Figure 4 as being secured to the top of the base by'screws 7 so that the stem 6 is in .fluid tight contact atits lower end with The standard 6 is secured to the top ofv the baseadjacent to one side of the base, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 5. The upper end portion of the tubular standard is bent laterally and carries a vertically disposed cylinder 8 which is located directly above an openingin the top 1 of the base. The cylinder 8 is closed at its upper and lower ends by an upper head 10 and a lower head 11 respectively.

.The space within the hollow tubular standard 6 is divided longitudinally by a partition 12 intot-wo separate passages 13 and 14 respectively, each of which extends the full length of the tubular standard. A piston 15 is: reciprocable in the cylinder 8. The passage 13communicates with the space within the cylinder 8 through a duct '16 in above the flat surface 3 a central opening18 in the lower head 11 and atits lower end carries a tubular mem ber 19. The function of the tubular or hollow member 19 will presently appear.

The four-way cock has a casing 20 formed to provide a pairof tubular air delivery ports or outlets 21and '22 respectively, a tubular air inlet port 23 which is located on the casing 20 midway between the air outlets 21 and 22,"an'd an exhaust outlet 24-v which also is located on the casing'20 midway between the air delivery outlets 21 and 22 and directly opposite the air inlet 23. A plug 25ismo unted to rotatein the casing 20 and is formed with. a pair of oppositely curved spaced ducts 26and 27 respectively, each of which is adapted to establish coinnn'uiication ,betweenthe inner ends of any two adjacent members2l-24, 2423, 22 23, and 28'21. An axial stein 28 for the plug 25 (see Fig. 5) extends through an opening in the supporting flange 2 or the base and is provided at its outer end with a handle 29. The handle 29 maybe manipulated to rotate the plug 25 to connect the air intake 23 with the delivery outlet- 21 and the delivery outlet 22 with the exhaust 24: as shown in Figure 6 or to connect theair intake 23 with the delivery outlet 21 and the delivery outlet 22 with the exhaust 24 as shown in Figure 6 or to connect the intake 23 with the delivery outlet 22 and the delivery outlet 21 with the exhaust outlet A supply conduit 30 is connected at one end with the air inlet 23 and extends through an opening in the supporting flange 2 oi? the base for connection with any suitable source of pressure fluid supply. A conduitBl is connected at one end to thedelivery outlet 22 and has the other end thereof secured in an opening in the top 1 oil the base at the lower end of the passage 14. The delivery outlet 2.1 is connected immediately with the passage 13 by means which will be presently described.

A horizontal suction cylinder has a flat attaching flange on its upper. side extending beyond one end of the suction cylinder. This attaching flange is held liatwise against the underside of the portion oi? the top 1 of the base which surrounds the opening 9 by means of screws 34- whichh ave their heads disposed in countersunk relation to the upper of'the top 1 as'shown in Figure A. veilticalpassage through the upper side of the cylinderi32 and through the attaching flange 33 is continuous with thebore of a tubular extension 36 whlch is supported screw "38 is adapted to in the opening 9 in spaced relation to the wall of the latter. The bore of the tubular extension 38 preferably enlarges from its lower 'to'its upper end as shown in Figure 2. The tubular extension 36 is screw threaded externally for engagement with an internally threaded depending tubular projection 37 on a rest plate 38 which thereby will be secured on the top 1 of the base at the upper end of the opening 9. The rest plate support an investincntholding ring 39 of any one of a plurality of different sizes. Apertures 4Ointhe portion of the rest plate 38 that is'disposcd at'the upper end of the bore of the tubular extension 36 establish communication between the space within the investment ring '89 on the rest plate and the passage 36'35 leadingto the interiorofthe cylinder 32 at one-end ofthe latter. A power cylinder-41 has a flat at taching flange 42011 its upper side held fiatwise against the downwardly enlarged portion 423 of: the top 1 of thebase by screws 4-4- or like fastening devices so that the cylinder 4.1 will be supported in axial alignment with the Cylinder 32 adjacent to the end of the latter which is provided with-the suction passage 85. The cylinders 32 and ll are closed at their adj acentends by'l'ieads'having aligned openings through which a rod 45 slidably extends. The rod 45 also extends through stuffing boxes 46 and 47 which respectivelyare provided at the-end of the cylinderdl and the end of the eylinder32 which are adjacent each other. The rod 45" is connected' at one'end to a piston 18 which is reciprocahle in the cylinder 41' and is connected at its otherend to the piston 49 which reciprocable fin 'thecylinder 32. I The cylinder 41' is closed'at its other end by an imperforate head '50. The cylinder 32 isclosed at the end thereof that is remote from the cylinder 41 by a head 51 formed with an outwardly extending axial boss 52.

A central opening 53 extending through thehead 51 of the boss 52 is enlarged at its inner end as indicated at 5% in Figure 2 of the drawing. The boss 52 is threaded externally for engagement with the threaded wall. of a coun'terbore 55 at one end of the central bore 56 ot a tubular valve casing 57. The tubular valve casing 57 is provided also with a counter-bore 58 at its other end and the bore is enlarged to provide a chamber 59 midway between the countcrbores-55 and 58. Thebore 56 is enlarged and beveled at its juncture with the countcrbore 55 to provide a. tapering seat 60 for a beveled valve 61. The valve 61 is movable in the counterbore 55 between the seat 60 andthe outer end or the boss 52 andhas an axial guide stem62 extending in the bore 56 from the counterbore 55 into the chamber '59. The bore 56 also is enlarged and beveled at its juncture with the counter-bore 58 to provide atapen ing' valve seat 63 for a beveledivalve .64. The valve 64,-is provided at itsyinneiaend with an axial guide stem extending in the'bore 56 andthe chamber 69 ,against theouter end of the stem 62, the length ofthe stems 62 and 65 combined being greater than the distance and 63. The counterbore 58 is closed at its outer end by a screw plug central recess 67 in its innerface. pansion spring 68ha s -the outer. end portion thereof received in the'recess 67 and bears at its inner end against the valve 64 in encircling-relation toa retainingpin 69 which extends axially from the outer faceof. the valve 64.. The spring 60 holds the valve 64 against its seat and hold the valve 61 away from its seat. The chamber 58 is provided with-a lateral part 70 with which one end of a tubular conduit 71 is connected. The chamber 59. also is provided with a lateral port with. which a tubular conduit 72 is connected. ber 55 is provided with. a lateral-port 74 open. to the atmosphere. 62 is provided with grooves 75 extending longitudinally thereof from'thevalve 51 .to the free end of the stem 62 andconstituting air passages. The stem 65 is provided with similar grooves, indicatedat 76.

' he power'cylinder 41 is provided adja-.

cent to the end thereof that is proximateto the cylinder 32 with a lateral port with,

which a tubular conduit 77 is connected. The tubularconduit 77 .is connected at. its other end to the conduit 31-. Theypower cylinder 41 also has a porttad'jaeent .to itsv other end with which a tubular' co'nduit 7 8 is connected. 78 are branches connected tothe of the four way cocks A lidor cover for closing the upper end of the investment holding ring 39 is carried at the lower end of the tubular member 19 and is movable vertically with the of a conduit 79 which is rod 18 and therefore with the piston 15 tov rest on the investment holding ring 39." hen the piston 15 is; at the lower end of its stroke in the cylinder and from positionto 8, the cover 80 willbe clampedtightly against the upper end of the investment and. will close thelatter.

holding ring 39 p 15 is at the upper endof its \Vhen the piston stroke as shown in cover 80 will have been lifted from the investment holdingring 39 and will be positioned above the latter. 80 is provided with establishing communication between the interior of the member 19and the space with.-

in the investment holding ring 39-when the cap or cover 80 is in position onth'e investmentholding ring. Flowof pressure fluid from'the passage 13'to'the space within the between the valve seats 60.

66 formed with a. An extherefore also tendsto' The cham- The valve stem various parts The tubular conduits 71 and.

tubular delivery outlet 22 inder 41.

pressure within'the chamber 58 Figure 4', the cap or;

The cap or coverv a central opening 81 for.

the investment holding. ring 39. In my aforesaidprior patent I have disclosed a novel means for accomplishing this result but since the same per-se forms no part of the present invention, the same 'in. the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be .understoodthat I may make use of-the specific means that is disclosed in my aforesaid prior patent to con-' tr'ol the flow of'pressure fluid through the casing member-19 so that no pressure fluid will pass through the opening 81 of the'cap or lid 80 until the latter has'beenlowered into position on the investment holding ring 39. From thereof may be readily understood. 1 The handle 29 is manipulated to connectthe pressure fluid intake 23 through one of the ducts in the plug 25 of .the four-way cock with the delivery 31 would be connected with the exhaust outlet' or port 24 throughthe other duct in the .ber 58 at the outer end of thevalve casing- 57 and into the outer end of the power cyl- The power cylinder '41 is of greater-area in cross section then the chamber 58 and the pressure within the outer end of. the power cylinder 41, having caused movement of the pistons 48 and 49 in the cylinders 41 and 32 respectively until a pusher rod 84 on the piston 49 has been projected through the opening 53 in thehead 51 against the valve 61, will cause the valves a unit against the 61. and 64 to be moved as combined action of the spring 68 and" fluiduntil the valve 64 is moved from its seat and the valve 61 is moved against, its seat. .However, suction resulting'from the movement of the-pistion- 49 in the cylinder 32 will commence at the beginning of the stroke of the piston 49 while the valve 64 will not be moved from its seat until the suction stroke of the piston 49-has been nearly completed. As soon as the valve 64 is moved from its seat, pressure fluid will flow past the valve 64 along the bore'into the chamber 59 grooves 76 in the and thence through the conduit 73' into the I have not illustrated the foregoing description of the of the device, "the operation outlet 21 and therefore with the conduit 79. At this time, the 'delivery outlet 22 and therefore the conduit.

preventing return movement 40 1n the investment holding ring,

holding apertures,

passage 13-. From the passage 13,- pressure fluid will pass into the-upperend of the cyl inder 8 and will cause the piston lh to m'ove downward in the cylinder 8,-therebyeausing the cap or cover 80 toibe lowered liO POSlijlOll on the investment holding ring 39. At the same time, pressure fluid passes from the pressure regulating devicev passage 13 to the 82' and conduit 83 into the tubular member 19 and after the cover 80 has'been lowered to position on the investment holding ring 89, pressure fluid member 19 at the opening 81' of the cover 80 into the upper part of the investment ring for the purpose oi exerting. pressure onthe investment material in the investment holding; ring so that a compact casting of a desired sha e may be formed, It Will be manifest that air. from the mold cavity Will. haye'been Withdrawn from the mold cavity as a result of thesuction onthe apertures 40 before pressureuisexerted on' the investment material at theupper'end of the investment holding ring and that thesuction or the apertures 40 and theretoreon the lower portion orbottom' of: the mold cavity will continue While pressure is being applied on the investment material at the upper end of the investniient holding ring after the cover 80'has been lowered to position as a result of the operation just described. When the casting has been formed and it is desired to raise the cover 80 from the investment holding; ring, the handle of the fourway coclc ismanipulated to connect the tubular plug- 21 with the exhaust port 24 and to connect the tubular port 22 with the intake port 23. 2

Pressure fluid then: will flow through the conduit 31' into the'passage 1st: and thence to the lower part of the cylinder 8; The piston: 15' will be moved upward, in the cylinderB, thereby causing the cover 80 to be lifted from the investment holding ring. ik-h the same time, pressure fluid will pass 'thnoug'hi the conduit 77 to the inner end of the cylinder '41 and the piston 48 Willi be moved; in the cylinder 41 toward the head 50 or in other Words away from the cylinder 32.

i As pointed out in my aforesaid prior patent,

any suitable sealing substance'may be placed: in the passage 35 and Within the space in the tubular extension ififi for the purpose of of air tothe during the return: stroke of thepiston 49 in the suction cylinder. While the suction stroke of the piston 49 takes place, the av haust from the outer end of the'cylinder 32 and from the chamber will: be throughthe port 74. As soon as the piston 49 starts on its return stroke the pistonrod Sibeginsto move away from position to hold the valve 61 closedandthe valve 61 starts to move toward open position or away from its passes from the tubular seat and the "alve 64 starts to move toward? its seat. During the early part of" the return stroke of the piston: 49, the exhai'ist from theiu1: perpart of the cylinder 8, from: the passage 13*, condi1i-t 73 and chamber 59" is principally through the bore 56, chamber 58, conduit 71, conduit 79" and exhaust port 24 of the'tour Way cock. However, as soon. as the valve 61 moves away from. its seat, some exhaust: Willi take place from the chamber 59' and: the hereinbefore mentioned parts with which the chamber. 59 is in: communis *ation through the bore"56, chamber 55 and: exhaust port 74. After the piston 49 has moved onits return stroke a distance sufiie cient'to permit the valve Gite be moved; by the spring 68 against its seat, any pressure r'iuiil remaining in the chamber 59 andthe parts in. communication Wit-l1 the chamber 59 may escape through the bore 56," chamber 55 andv port 74.

1 In a casting machine ot'the character described, a cover tier one end: of an invest-- ment holding ring, said: cover having an opening tl'irough which pressure fluid 'may enter said investment holding ring when the cover is impositionto close saidf one end of the inves'tement holding ring, a pneumatic operated plunger for moving said cover to and. from position to close said investment holding: ring at its said-: one end, pneumatic means associated with; the investment holding ring at its other endfor causing a-"suetion Within said investment ring. at its second' named end, and means for controlling the flow of pressure fluid: through saidsuction causing device means and" through said. cover operating piston so that the suction causing device means will be operated in advance of: andi continue during the movement of said piston to.position'to-movesaid coveragainst the first named end of the investment holdingring.

2. In a casting" machine of the character described, a suction cylinder having a suc-' ti on passage adj acent. one end thereof, means for supporting an investment holding ring so that said suction passage will he in communicat-ion with the space Withinthe in-' Ian vestment holding ring at one" end of the" lat-: v

ter, a piston within said. pneumatic; cylinder in alignment withisa'id suction cylinder, a piston-within said; pneumatic cylinder, a piston rod connectedto the pistonot the pneumatic cylinder with. the piston of the suctioncylinder,a cover for thesecond end of said investment holding ring, said cover having an o eningthrough' which pressure fluid may enter the invest-- ment holding ring an additional pneumatic cylindeigae plunger in? the last named pneue matic cylinder connected With said coverfor moving the latter to and from; position to close the second-l-n'amed'end; of the investsuction cylinder, a:-

ment holding ring, and means for supplying pressure fluid to said first named pneumatic cylinder and to said last named pneumatic cylinder, said pressure fluid supply 5 means acting to move the piston in said suction cylinder in the direction required to cause suction Within the first named end of the investment holding ring in advance of the movement of the piston in the last named pneumatic cylinder in the direction required 10 to move said cover to position to close said imestment holding ring at its second named en FRANCIS NATHANIEL BROWN, Jr. 

